Monument Mountain is a 2.5mile long quartzite ridgeline located in Great Barrington and Stockbridge, Massachusetts in the Berkshires geology. Beside the high point, 1 739 feet, the mountain has several other distinct peaks, most notably the open, knife-edge Squaw Peak, 1 642 feet located on the southeast side of the mountain within the 503 acre Monument Mountain reservation managed by The Trustees of Reservations. The mountain receives over 20 000 visitors per year. When you ascent this popular peak with your handicap van rentals Boston you will be able to gaze at the spectacular landscapes of the Housatonic River Valley and even spot the occasional bald eagle!

A little history

Monument Mountain has been the subject of art and literature since as early as 1815 when the poet William Cullen Bryant penned "Monument Mountain," an account of the story of a Mohican woman who allegedly leapt from what is now called Squaw Peak. In 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville picnicked on the mountain; a thunderstorm forced them to seek cover in a boulder cave where they engaged in a lengthy discussion which inspired some of Melville's ideas for his novel Moby Dick. In the 1930s, red pines were planted on the reservation; by that time much of the mountain had been heavily logged for the charcoal industry in support of iron foundries in Falls Village, Connecticut and Lenox, Massachusetts. The reservation was acquired as the gift of Helen C. Butler in 1899 and John Butler Swann in 1980. Additional parcels were purchased in 1985 and 1986.

Monument Mountain Reservation

Monument Mountain is the name of a popular 503 acre open space reservation located in Great Barrington, Massachusetts on the southeast side of Monument Mountain. The reservation is centered around the 1 642 feet subordinate summit of Squaw Peak. It is managed by The Trustees of Reservations, a non-profit conservation organization and is notable for its expansive views of the Housatonic River Valley, The Berkshires, the Taconic Mountains, and the Catskill Mountains of New York from the knife edge summit of Squaw Peak. When you visit the Monument Mountain you definitely also need to check out the reservation as well.

Things to do

There are lots of things to do when you travel with you handicap van rentals Boston to Monument Mountain A trailhead parking lot is located on Massachusetts Route 7 north of Great Barrington center. The trail system consists of the Hickey Trail and Indian Monument Trail which form a loop around Squaw Peak; and Squaw Peak Trail which ascends the knife edge summit between the other two trails. An unnamed waterfall is located to along the Hickey Trail. Devil's Pulpit, part of Squaw Peak, is a free-standing pillar of stone visible from the Squaw Peak Trail. When you travel with your handicap van rentals Boston you will find that the Monument Mountain Reservation is open to hiking, picnicking, and hunting (in season). So make sure you come prepared to take advantage of all that the Monument Mountain has to offer!

Before you go

You can visit the Monument Mountain with your handicap van rentals Boston year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of 2 hours and don't forget to wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water. Your handicap van rentals Boston also highly recommends you take extreme caution along the steep routes, ledges, and peaks as they can be dangerous when icy. For more information when you travel with your handicap van rentals Boston to Monument Mountain check out the trustees of reservations official website at www.thetrustees.org or call 418-298-3239.